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1. Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. In its 2004 observation, the Committee requested the Government to report in detail on the application of the Convention. In June 2006, the Government reported that a total of 6,640 applicants were registered in the Employment Exchange and Professional and Executive Registries in 2005. Of these, 1,516 applicants were placed in employment, while a total number of 1,989 vacancies were notified. In reply to a request by the Office for supplementary information, the Government provided, in August 2006, figures on the impact of the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) concerning the training of youth under the Vocational Skills Development Programme between 2002 and 2005. The Committee notes that NEEDS covers small-scale enterprise programmes, rural employment promotion programmes, assistance for self-employment, special public work programmes and women’s cooperatives. The Committee notes again, as pointed out by NEEDS, that since manufacturing is stagnant there are few jobs for the growing urban population, and urban unemployment was estimated at 10.8 per cent in 2004. NEEDS policies are expected to create about 7 million new jobs by 2007, by making it easier for private enterprises to thrive by training people in skills relevant for the world of work and by promoting integrated rural development in collaboration with the States. The Committee hopes that the Employment Exchange and Professional Executive Registries will effectively perform their essential task within the meaning of the Convention, that is, of ensuring, in accordance with Article 1, paragraph 1, of the Convention, the best possible organization of the employment market for the achievement and maintenance of full employment and for the development and use of productive resources. The Committee therefore requests the Government to report on the measures taken, in cooperation with the social partners, so that the public employment service is run efficiently and free of charge, and that it comprises a network of offices sufficient in number to meet the specific needs of jobseekers and employers countrywide. It also asks the Government to describe in its next report the activities of the employment service and the effects noted or expected on employment as a result of implementing its poverty reduction strategy.

2. The Committee further requests the Government to include in its next report statistical information published in annual or periodical reports on the number of public employment offices established, applications for employment received, vacancies notified and persons placed in employment by such offices (Part IV of the report form). Please also provide information on the following matters:

–      consultations held with representatives of employers and workers on the organization and operation of the employment service and the development of employment policy (Articles 4 and 5);

–      the manner in which the employment service is organized and the activities which it performs in order to carry out effectively the functions listed in Article 6;

–      the activities of the public employment service concerning the various occupations and industries, as well as particular categories of jobseekers that are in socially vulnerable positions, in particular workers with disabilities (Article 7);

–      measures proposed by the employment service to assist youth in finding suitable employment (Article 8);

–      measures proposed by the employment service, with the cooperation of the social partners, to encourage the full use of employment service facilities (Article 10);

–      measures taken or envisaged by the employment service to pursue cooperation between the public employment service and private employment agencies (Article 11).